The Remains Of The Zombies

[ooeeooahah]

(Backdated to the end of the infestation)

1490 Kramden Road: Late night to early morning

[ The house is a little worse for wear, and there's a sedan parked haphazardly in the driveway. But the feature that catches the eye of the passer-by is the circle of scorched earth in the front yard. It is still smoking after midnight. ]

[ If someone should

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[drspengler]

[Egon is dirty, sweaty, and his curly hair is unruly and stuck to his forehead in places but he's otherwise unscathed. He jogs down Kramden Road to check in on Ilsa and anyone else who has camped out at her place. As he nears the house, he immediately catches sight of the giant smoking crater in the front yard. Wow. If Ilsa did that, he's very impressed.

Still checking for zombies in the area and holding his proton gun ready just in case, he goes to the door and pounds on it with his elbow. His other arm is still missing its hand.]

Ilsa? It's me!

[He waits a moment and frowns at just how quiet the house is. Something feels eerie about it.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ The eerie quiet might prompt him to look for the door key. It's in one of the places she mentioned hiding such things, wedged behind the porch light. ]

[drspengler]

[No answer. Everything is silent. Something is definitely not right and Egon decides that he needs to get into the house *now*. Unfortunately, he can't remember the key's hiding spot (he was probably thinking about quantum physics when Ilsa told him where it is) and he quickly gives up searching around the porch for it. Sorry, Ilsa. I guess I'll be fixing your door later.

He takes a step back and, bracing himself the way Winston taught him, he begins kicking at the door. On the third kick it flies open with splintered wood littering the entry way. He steps into the house, keeping his eyes wide open for any movement.]

Ilsa?! [He climbs the stairs two at a time and finds her on the floor by the window. He drops his proton gun on the floor and kneels beside her, rolling her over.]

Ilsa? Hey, you still with me? [He presses his fingers to her neck for a pulse and looks her over for bite marks.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ Her breathing is shallow, pulse is steady, and there is a line of dried blood on her cheek from a nosebleed, but no zombie bite marks. ]

Hng...

ow.

...Egon?

[drspengler]

[His name sounds strange coming from her and he realizes it's the first time she's ever called him that. Fighting the urge to hug her, he tries to help her sit up if she's able.]

Are you alright? What happened?

[ooeeooahah]

Mm.

[ She smiles sadly at him, touching his cheek. ]

Tarvek got bit... had to make sure they didn't get any more of him.

[drspengler]

[He closes his eyes. That explains the singed crater on the front lawn. Also why she had passed out onto the floor by the window.]

I see.

[Memories flood back to him of the agonized begging of the people who had been infected. They'd seen him with his proton pack and begged for death.]

I had to kill people today, too. The first one was the hardest.

[In his mind's eye he sees the charred, headless remains of their bodies on the streets.]

The children didn't even know what was going on. I had to-

[He can't even finish that sentence.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ She reaches up and pulls herself closer to him, weakly projecting comfort. ]

Ssh, I know. I know. We don't have a cure, and no other way.

[ She tucks her head in on his shoulder, the projection wearing her out, and fading. ]

It needed to be done... and they'll be back.

[ She's not going to think about he small percentage that might wake up the next day as drones after this. ]

[drspengler]

[He can recognize now when she's projecting to him and he's grateful for it. The images of the smoldering bodies, the bodies that he destroyed, will haunt him for some time.

He wraps his good arm around her shoulders, feeling her droop against him from exhaustion. He finally swallows the tightness in his throat.]

Here, let's get you off the floor. Which room is yours? [He begins to try to help her to her feet, unable to carry her with one useless stump of an arm, but still able to support.]

[ooeeooahah]

Heh, inna basement. Guest room's closer.

[ She struggles up to her feet with his help, and leans against him with a sigh. ]

Sorry I can't do more to help.

[drspengler]

[Glimpsing a neatly made bed through one of the open doors down the hallway, Egon begins leading her in that direction.]

Don't worry about it. Right now you need to concentrate on resting.

[Supporting her as best he can with one arm around her waist, he guides her into the room and helps her onto the bed.]

You need me to get anything for you?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She gives him an odd look, that might be a smile, if the wasn't so tired, then she sighs. ]

I... could use some water...

[ She rubs her face, and frowns at the feel of the dried blood. ]

nn, tripped the switch, I did.

[drspengler]

[Nods.]

You really drained yourself.

[He gives her arm a gentle squeeze before leaving the room to retrieve some water for her, setting down his proton pack in the hallway.]

((I assume this is where Tarvek enters in the next thread down.))